Liquid crystal display device

Abstract

According to an aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate provided with a first electrode portion that includes a plurality of strip electrodes arranged in a first direction and that is configured to generate a transverse electric field in the first direction; a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal molecules are oriented in the first direction when the transverse electric field is not generated; a second substrate facing the first substrate across the liquid crystal layer; and an electrode provided at the second substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate provided with a pixel electrode portion that includes a plurality of pixel strip electrodes arranged in a first direction; 
 a common electrode that is provided spaced from the pixel electrode portion with an insulating film therebetween; 
 a liquid crystal layer in which liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a first orientation direction when a transverse electric field is not generated; 
 a second substrate facing the first substrate across the liquid crystal layer; and 
 a plurality of floating strip electrodes provided at the second substrate, 
 wherein the transverse electric field is generated between the pixel electrode portion and the common electrode in the first direction and between the pixel electrode portion and the floating strip electrodes, and allow the liquid crystal layer to scatter light during a voltage being applied, and 
 wherein the first orientation direction is:
 a second direction in which each of the pixel strip electrodes extends, when the liquid crystal molecules have negative dielectric anisotropy; 
 the first direction that is perpendicular to the second direction, when the liquid crystal molecules have positive dielectric anisotropy; 
 
 wherein the pixel strip electrodes, which are arranged in the first direction, and the floating strip electrodes, which are arranged in the first direction on a lower side of the second substrate, do not overlap each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first substrate, 
 wherein a distance between the pixel strip electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction is substantially equal to a width of each of floating strip electrodes in the first direction, and 
 wherein a distance between the floating strip electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction is substantially equal to a width of each of pixel strip electrodes in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pixel strip electrodes of the pixel electrode portion and the floating strip electrodes face each other with the liquid crystal layer therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the floating strip electrodes are provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystals. 
     
     
       4. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein a width in the first direction of each of the pixel strip electrodes of the pixel electrode portion and a spacing in the first direction between the pixel strip electrodes of the pixel electrode portion are 18 μm or smaller. 
     
     
       5. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pixel electrode portion that includes the pixel strip electrodes each of which extends in the second direction and which are arranged in the first direction that is: 
 a direction perpendicular to the first orientation direction, when the liquid crystal molecules have negative dielectric anisotropy; and 
 the first orientation direction that is perpendicular to the second direction, when the liquid crystal molecules have positive dielectric anisotropy. 
 
     
     
       6. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the transverse electric field is generated between the pixel strip electrodes and the common electrode overlapping an entire area in which the pixel strip electrodes are disposed, in the first direction during a voltage being applied, such that a dark domain and a bright domain of a liquid crystal texture are alternately arranged along the second direction to allow boundaries of refractive indices between the dark domain and the bright domain to appear between the pixel strip electrodes and allow the liquid crystal layer to scatter light. 
 
     
     
       7. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the third direction, the common electrode overlaps both of the pixel strip electrodes and the floating strip electrodes that do not overlap each other. 
     
     
       8. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate including a common electrode and a pixel electrode facing the common electrode; 
 a second substrate facing the first substrate and including a floating electrode; 
 a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules held between the first substrate and the second substrate, the liquid crystal molecules being oriented in a first orientation direction when a transverse electric field is not generated; 
 wherein the pixel electrode is located closer to the liquid crystal layer than the common electrode is, and has a plurality of open regions arranged in a first direction, 
 wherein the liquid crystal layer is configured to exhibit transparency when no voltage is applied thereto and to exhibit a scattering property when a voltage is applied thereto, 
 wherein the transverse electric field is generated between the common electrode and the pixel electrode in the first direction and between the pixel electrode and the floating electrode, and allows the liquid crystal layer to scatter light during a voltage being applied, and 
 wherein the first orientation direction is:
 a second direction in which each of the open regions extends, when the liquid crystal molecules have negative dielectric anisotropy; 
 the first direction that is perpendicular to the second direction, when the liquid crystal molecules have positive dielectric anisotropy; 
 
 wherein the pixel electrode includes a plurality of pixel strip electrodes divided by the open regions arranged in the first direction, the pixel strip electrodes being arranged in a first direction, 
 the floating electrode including a plurality of floating strip electrodes each of which is extending in the second direction, 
 the pixel strip electrodes, which are arranged in the first direction, and the floating strip electrodes, which are arranged in the first direction on a lower side of the second substrate, do not overlap each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first substrate, 
 wherein a distance between the pixel strip electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction is substantially equal to a width of each of floating strip electrodes in the first direction, 
 wherein a distance between the floating strip electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction is substantially equal to a width of each of pixel strip electrodes in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       9. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the transverse electric field is generated between the pixel strip electrodes and the common electrode overlapping an entire area in which the pixel strip electrodes are disposed, in the first direction during a voltage being applied, such that a dark domain and a bright domain of a liquid crystal texture are alternately arranged along the second direction to allow boundaries of refractive indices between the dark domain and the bright domain to appear between the pixel strip electrodes and allow the liquid crystal layer to scatter light. 
 
     
     
       10. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 8 , wherein, in the third direction, the common electrode overlaps both of the pixel strip electrodes and the floating strip electrodes that do not overlap each other.